Westbound’s time in Brazil began on the 4th of June. We were greeted by a lovely and passionate group of people who would be our hosts for the next 17 days: Igreja Atitude (Attitude Church). We stayed at their missions base in Jandira, while the church itself is based in Alphaville, São Paulo. The distinction between the two areas is quite noticeable—Alphaville is a wealthy neighbourhood, while the missions base is located in a less fortunate community.
We were taken straight from the airport to the missions base, where we met some of the staff we would be working with. They were loving and incredibly welcoming. During our time in Brazil, we did many house visits, going into people’s homes to share the love of Christ and pray encouragement over them.
We were accompanied by Pastor Irene, a local missionary, and her baby boy, Brian. He is growing up watching his mother visit homes and love the people in her community. What a wonderful upbringing! We also had the privilege of celebrating his first birthday with him and his family, which was a special occasion for both us and Pastor Irene.
The house visits made an incredible impact on our team. We saw the Holy Spirit move in powerful ways and left encouraged by what God was doing. Light was being lit in the darkness. We also participated in various worship evenings in both Jandira and Alphaville. It was beautiful to see two very different cultures come together to worship the one true God—the Creator of every culture.
Throughout our time there, we had opportunities to share our stories with the church. They asked questions about our journey so far and showed genuine interest in what God had been doing in our lives.
One evening, the ladies on our team spent time with some of the younger women from the church who felt called to missions. They prayed for them, encouraged them, and shared from their own experiences. Every Saturday, children from the community would come to the missions base. The staff shared a message, and we had the opportunity to spend time with them and enjoy fellowship together.
During our time in Brazil, we were abundantly blessed. The people were incredibly generous and constantly looked for ways to bless us. In fact, we left with more money than we arrived with—some would say we have a very rich Father. We ate exceptionally well and got to try traditional Brazilian foods and drinks. The guys in the group also had the opportunity to play soccer with the locals. They thoroughly enjoyed it, and it became a great way to connect with people. The competitive side of the team definitely came out during the football matches.
“Greg was one of the people who helped drive us around and translate for us at church, and that’s how I first got to know him. From the moment we met, I could tell that he was a genuinely kind, open, and loving person. As we spent more time together—working out, joking around, and having countless conversations—our friendship grew, and we eventually found ourselves discussing our different beliefs and worldviews.
One of the things that stood out to me most about Greg was how intentional he is about building relationships. He genuinely wants to know people, understand them, and make them feel valued. His life is marked by a positive attitude and a sincere love for those around him. Although his beliefs differ from ours, he never approached our conversations with hostility or defensiveness. Instead, he was open, thoughtful, and eager to listen and learn. It was a privilege to share the truth of the gospel with him and to hear about the beliefs that currently shape his life.
Greg often said that he tries to build his life on a foundation of love, and that was clearly evident in the way he treated people. I truly believe that our team had the opportunity to plant a seed in his life. My prayer is that, as he continues searching for truth with an open heart, God will reveal Himself to Greg and lead him to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
One of the greatest lessons I took away from my friendship with Greg is that God can use anyone to teach us something. Even though Greg has not yet come to faith in Christ, the Lord used him to challenge me to love people more intentionally, listen more carefully, and approach others with greater kindness and joy. I am thankful for the time I was able to spend with him, and I trust that God will continue the work He has begun in Greg’s life.”
— Christiaan van den Berg
Then came the final Sunday—the day we had to say goodbye to our new family. It was a very emotional farewell. Our time in Alphaville and Jandira was truly a season of growth and service.
With the goodbyes behind us, we moved on to our next ministry location: Atibaia. We were welcomed by our host, Guilherme, who runs a non-profit organisation for young people. He has created a safe space where young people can enjoy fellowship and go deeper into the Word of God. He transformed his home into a haven where people can gather, grow, and belong.
We spent time with Guilherme and his family and were welcomed warmly into their lives. Every Monday evening, they host a youth gathering where young people come together, play games, and build relationships. We had the opportunity to share some of our testimonies from the year and spend time with the group. It was incredible to see how God is working in the lives of young people.
We also had our mid-year debrief during our stay in Atibaia. As a team, we reflected on each country we had visited, sharing both the highs and the lows of the journey so far.
After Atibaia, we travelled to Rio de Janeiro. When we arrived at the bus station, we were still a few kilometres away from our accommodation. The travel team invited us to put our bags on our backs, lace up our walking shoes, and make the journey on foot. We walked 3.9 kilometres from the station to our accommodation.
Once we arrived, we met Oom Jan and Tannie Wendy, who came to spend time with us and help prepare us for the upcoming parent visit. We stayed with them in central Rio for three days, finishing our debrief and getting ready for this special season.
On the 2nd of July, many of our parents arrived in Rio for the Parent Visit! It was a beautiful moment. Emotions ran high and tears of joy flowed freely. For the next ten days, we spent time with our parents, creating memories and sharing our journey with them.
There was plenty of adventure and fun. We took part in a Rio Challenge, explored the city, and discovered many corners of this vibrant place. The entire group also gathered on the beach for Bible studies and information sessions with Frankie, the man who led our training in South Africa. One memorable activity was a game called 19 Perspectives, where the parents had the opportunity to hear how we had seen their sons and daughters grow throughout the year.
We also spent a day doing worship and a Bible relay in a coliseum-style area at the end of Copacabana Beach, followed by a church service. Many people noticed us and began asking questions, which opened doors for evangelism. One woman who worked in one of the buildings where we stayed approached us after seeing our group. She shared that she has a deep passion for Jesus and for seeing the Gospel reach the nations but never knew how she could become involved. Now she has met Global.
As a team, we also visited Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain—two must-see landmarks when visiting Rio.
Brazil made a massive impact on us. We experienced significant character growth, from sharing one bathroom between nineteen people—twelve ladies and seven guys—to learning more about one another through our parents.
Different colours. Different emotions. Vibrant people. Open hearts and colourful streets. Brazil, what an impact you made on us—from unforgettable soccer matches to incredible churrasco. You taught us more about ourselves as we pursued Jesus. You showed us how God is moving in the heart of South America. From beautiful mountains to breathtaking views, you revealed the beauty of God’s creation through modern architecture, culture, and nature woven together. You helped us put on new shoes, ready for the road ahead. Our journey would be incomplete without you.
Goodbye, Brazil! You’ve been so good to us. 🇧🇷